An Even Dozen

I used to do Black Friday back when it actually fell on Friday. My boys delivered the newspaper then, and Thanksgiving inserts generally arrived well in advance. It gave me time to check out the sales at JCPenney, Mervyn’s and ZCMI. I’d show up at the mall around 6:00 Friday morning with my mom, my sisters and a few other women in sweatpants and hoodies, warming their hands with steaming mugs. By sunrise I’d be home with bed sheets, tablecloths, bath towels, and kids’ clothing I’d bought at 50% to 75% off. The last year I participated, there was a riot at Penney’s over free one-to-a-customer snow globes. Now Black Friday sales happen Thanksgiving Day or sooner, and they’re mostly about electronics. There are some deals out there, but only for a handful of shoppers willing to fight (and spend) to get them. If you want my share, you’re more than welcome to it.